New Delhi: With China’s ever-growing economic influence around the world, its presence can be felt from Brazil to Bangladesh.
A report by Pew Research Centre titled ‘Most People in 35 Countries Say China Has a Large Impact on Their National Economy’ suggests more people from middle-income countries view China’s impact positively as compared to high-income countries.
The survey, published Tuesday, was conducted by Pew researchers Laura Silver, Christine Huang, Laura Clancy, and Andrew Prozorovsy from 5 January to 21 May, 2024, and included 44,166 participants from 35 nations spanning six continents. The survey used a mix of telephone, face-to-face, and online interviews with national samples.
The study found that where views on China’s economic influence changed, they have generally become more negative than in 2019, when responses were sought to the same question.
Americans are most likely to view China’s economic impact negatively, with about three-quarters saying Beijing’s influence on the US economy is negative.
In 10 of 13 countries where trend data was available, a higher percentage of people now say that China has a substantial impact on their country’s economy compared to five years ago.
In the 17 middle-income countries surveyed, a median of 47 percent of adults say China has a positive economic influence, while 29 percent say it has a negative impact. Across the middle-income countries surveyed, a median of 56 percent view China favourably.
At the same time, in the 18 high-income countries surveyed, a median of 57 percent of adults say China’s economic influence is negative, while 28 percent say it’s positive. Across the high-income countries surveyed, a median of 70 percent view China unfavourably.
Of the Asia-Pacific countries surveyed, Indians were the least likely to see economic benefits from Chinese companies, with 20 percent declining to answer or saying they did not know.
The most favourable views of Chinese companies were in Thailand (81 percent), Kenya (80 percent), and Bangladesh (79 percent), while most in the region shared a positive view of Beijing.
Additionally, people in Asia-Pacific countries generally view Chinese companies as treating local workers fairly, unlike in African countries, where opinions are more mixed.
In Ghana, Nigeria, the Philippines, and South Africa, approximately four-in-ten or more feel that Chinese companies in their countries do not treat local workers fairly.
From an environmental perspective, 63 percent respondents on average in nine middle-income nations believe that Chinese companies take steps to protect the environment. However, significant portions of the population in Ghana and South Africa disagree.
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Differences by age, ideology
According to the Pew survey, younger individuals generally hold a more favourable opinion of China compared to their older counterparts. This trend, long observed in the US, is also evident in over half of the surveyed countries.
Notably, in Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Peru and the UK, the positive perception gap between those aged 18 to 34 and those 50 and older is around 25 points. Conversely, in Hungary and South Korea, younger people tend to view China less favourably than older individuals.
Over the past year, views of China have become slightly more positive in Argentina, Canada and Greece, each with a 7-point increase. Moreover, favourable opinions have dropped significantly in Israel and Hungary, by 15 and 7 points, respectively.
The decline in Israel is believed to be linked to the Chinese stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict, including early calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and criticism of Israel’s actions. The survey was conducted before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s call in May this year for an independent Palestinian state.
The opinion on China’s economic impact also differed by ideology across different countries.
In six nations (Israel, Australia, France, US, Italy and Spain), Right-leaning individuals are more inclined to view China’s economic influence negatively compared to those on the Left.
Conversely, in a number of countries including South Korea, Japan, Greece and Hungary, people on the Left are more likely to believe China has a negative influence on their country’s economic conditions than those on the Right.
Confidence in Xi
Globally, few people trust the Chinese president, the Pew survey found.
A median of 24 percent respondents across 35 countries have at least some confidence in him, while 62 percent have little to no confidence.
Opinions differ significantly between high- and middle-income countries, with median confidence levels at 49 percent and 12 percent, respectively.
Since 2023, confidence in Xi has declined in South Africa (9 points) and Israel (6 points) but improved in Argentina (6 points) and Hungary (7 points). Confidence has also dropped in Malaysia (7 points) and Singapore (6 points) since 2022, and significantly in the Philippines (13 points) since 2019.
The survey reveals divided opinions in the Asia-Pacific region on China’s contribution to global peace and stability.
Around two-third respondents in Malaysia and Thailand believe China plays a positive role, while only about three-in-ten or fewer in Australia, India, Japan and South Korea agree.
Participants across the Asia-Pacific countries are also concerned about their territorial disputes with China.
Among 10 Asia-Pacific countries surveyed, the majorities or pluralities in all except Thailand expressed at least some concern about territorial disputes in the South China Sea, East China Sea and even border conflicts such as those between India and China.
In the Philippines, where border tensions with China are mainly focused on the Second Thomas Shoal of the Spratly Islands, 91 percent of respondents are concerned about the territorial disputes, while 65 percent are very concerned. In India, this concern is shared by 69 percent of respondents.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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